Teaching Eastern Townships History in High School

Our educational materials for high school students are designed to deepen the understanding of Canadian, Quebec and Eastern Townships’ history. Our pedagogical approach focuses on historical thinking and the analysis of primary sources from the ETRC’s archives, making them truly unique and relevant to school curricula. All our educational resources for meet the criteria of Quebec’s Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur and encourage students to reflect on Canadian, Quebec and regional history.

Minnie H. Bowen’s Canada

Quebec and Canadian History Program (2017): Secondary Four

Creation of a Canadian Federal Regime (1840-1896)

This learning task aims to explore how the Canadian population, particularly the population of the Eastern Townships, viewed Canada at the time of the Canadian Federation. More specifically, these activities aim to explore the point of view of one of this period’s most eminent Canadian women: Minnie H. Bowen. Several aspects will be examined through the analysis of several archival primary sources. For example, considering the social and political contexts of the time, how much weight can a woman’s opinion have? How do individuals from different environments view Canada’s relationship with Great-Britain? What are the prominent Canadian symbols and emblems? And what do they represent? These questions will lead students to reflect on the variety of groups of belonging that are present in the Eastern Townships.

Agriculture: Dear Diary…

History of Quebec and Canada (2017): Secondary Three or Secondary Four

Learnings: Influence of various characters and impacts of events on the social organization of a given territory

In the Eastern Townships region, the beginning of the 19^th century was characterized by extensive land clearing and subsistence farming. Approximately 85% of the population lived of agriculture, which represented some 5000 families. This activity will lead students to reflect of the daily lives of these individuals. This learning situation aims to examine various archival documents related to rural life in the 19^th century. Upon reading the daily diaries of certain farmers of this period, students will reflect on the lives of farmers and inhabitants of the Eastern Townships region in the first half of the 19^th century. Upon analyzing the reality of a 19th century farmer with the help of various documents, students will write a diary entry describing a day in the life of an Eastern Townships farmer.

The Development of the Eastern Townships by Loyalists: myth or reality?

History of Canada and Quebec (2017) : Secondary 3

The Eastern Townships are said to have been developed by Loyalists who came from the United States. Is this really true? Is this information a myth or a reality? What role did these individuals truly play in the history of the Eastern Townships? The various documentary records will allow students to answer these questions.